Houston Downs Tennessee 7-4 in Houston College Classic

Photo by Robert H Kelly, Copyright 2012

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 3, 2012)   Boosted by a three-run fourth inning, the Houston Cougars(6-4) downed the Tennessee Volunteers (7-2) by the score of 7-4 in opening gameaction for both teams in the 2012 Houston College Classic.

The highly vocal fans at Minute Maid Park saw Cougar startingpitcher Jared Ray strikeout the first six batters he faced while going seveninnings and only giving up one run on five hits.

He faced 25 batters while striking out 10 and not giving upa single walk.

The Cougars first got on the board when Chase Jensen scoredfrom third as John Cannon grounded out to Tennessee shortstop Zach Osborne.

Casey Grayson scored the Cougars’ second run on a LandonAppling RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

Price Jacobs tallied the third Houston run when pitcherRobbie Kidd walked Jake Runte with the bases loaded.

Tennessee came back in the top of the next inning to scoretheir first run on a Wes Walker single to right field to score Chris Frittsfrom third to take the score to 3-1.

The Cougars came back with another run in the bottom of thefifth when Jensen scored off a John Cannon double.

Houston scored two more runs in the sixth inning and asingle run in the seventh to insure their lead.

The Volunteers made a run at the Cougars in the top of theninth inning; scoring three runs before Zack Luther grounded out to Jensen toend the game.

Steckenrider was credited with the loss while relief pitcherMo Wiley got the save.

The Cougars recorded 13 hits with Cannon getting three andJensen, Grayson, Price Jacobs and Jacob Lueneburg each contributing two.

Houston will next face Arkansas in a 12 noon game onSaturday, March 3 while the Volunteers with take on Texas in the 3:30 p.m. gameat Minute Maid Park.